Budapest, 9 March 2026 (MIA) - Governments must swiftly adapt and act together amid heightened security and geopolitical challenges, because cooperation is the only real option, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski told a discussion themed "Central Europe and the Western Balkans in the New Geopolitical Era" within the Budapest Balkans Forum 2026, hosted by the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs on Monday.

"I recalled that the country received the EU candidate status alongside Croatia and that we have made serious national concessions over the years. Our society is overwhelmingly pro-European, the Government is focused on European reforms and full alignment with the Union's common foreign and security policy, but we expect the enlargement process to be clear, credible and predictable," FM Mucunski wrote in a Facebook post.

The FM highlighted the strategic importance of Corridors VIII and X from a security and trade standpoint, as well as the significance of relations with Hungary, "a country we have signed a strategic partnership agreement with".

"We see Hungary as an important friend and supporter on our European path. Our task is to be a predictable partner of the European Union but we expect the same predictability and credibility from member-states as well," says Mucunski.

Mucunski addressed the opening high-level discussion alongside Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó and Montenegrin Deputy PM for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović.

Photo: Timcho Mucunski Facebook